sabían
sah-BEE-ahn
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Mis padres sabían nadar desde que eran pequeños.
A2My parents knew how to swim since they were little.
En ese momento, ellas no sabían la verdad sobre el robo.
B1At that time, they didn't know the truth about the robbery.
Ustedes sabían perfectamente lo que tenían que hacer.
A2You (all) knew perfectly well what you had to do.
💡 Grammar Points
Imperfect Tense Function
The form 'sabían' describes a continuous state of knowledge or a skill that someone possessed over a period in the past. It sets the scene or background.
Saber vs. Conocer
'Sabían' (from saber) is used for knowing facts, information, or how to do something (a skill). Do not use it for knowing people or places.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using Preterite for Ongoing Knowledge
Mistake: "Supieron la respuesta. (They found out the answer.)"
Correction: Sabían la respuesta. (They already knew the answer.) The preterite (supieron) means 'they found out' or 'they learned,' a sudden action, not a continuous state.
⭐ Usage Tips
Quick Rule for Abilities
If you are talking about a skill someone had in the past (like knowing how to drive or speak French), always use the imperfect form 'sabían'.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: sabían
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'sabían'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'sabían' and 'supieron'?
'Sabían' (Imperfect) describes a state of knowledge that existed for a long time in the past ('They knew'). 'Supieron' (Preterite) describes the moment they gained that knowledge ('They found out' or 'They learned').